Jury indicts man in child exploitation

Michigan City resident allegedly found in motel room with three boys.

Michigan City resident allegedly found in motel room with three boys.

May 16, 2008|PABLO ROS Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- A grand jury in South Bend has indicted a Michigan City man with seven counts of child exploitation and child pornography after investigators allegedly found him in a Wisconsin motel room with three boys. James Allen Hatch, 44, is accused of transporting one or more minors across a state line to engage in sex; enticing one or more minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of filming it; transporting child pornography in interstate commerce; and possessing child pornography on his computer. An investigation into Hatch's alleged behavior began with two tips that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received, according to a press release from the U.S. attorney's office. The investigation, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an arm of the Department of Homeland Security, involved the St. Joseph County High Tech Crimes Unit of the prosecutor's office, among other law enforcement agencies. Wisconsin authorities allegedly found Hatch in a motel room with three boys and a small quantity of marijuana. Hatch was arrested in Wisconsin on drug charges but was not charged federally, "probably because it's a lesser charge," said Mary L. Hatton, public information officer for the U.S. attorney's office. One of the boys was younger than 14, while the other two were 14 or 15, according to charging documents. A confidential informant told authorities that Hatch's sexual relationship with one of the victims was "common knowledge" to his family and friends. Hatton said no one else has been charged in relation to this case, and would not comment on whether or not anyone else is under investigation for wrongdoing. According to charging documents, Hatch had told his family and friends the one victim who lived with him was "better off" because he was the son of alcoholics. All three of the boys have been returned to their parents. ICE agents allegedly found hundreds of images of child pornography in Hatch's computer after it was seized from his home in the 4000 block of West 900 North in LaPorte County. Two videotapes allegedly revealed children, including one of the boys in the Wisconsin motel room, engaging in sexual conduct. The federal immigration agency led the investigation because it also prosecutes cybercrimes, Hatton said. Hatch is being held at the St. Joseph County Jail on no bond.Staff writer Pablo Ros: pros@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6357